William lerchen



(No Model.)

W. LERGH EN. SAFETY STIRRUP. No. 435,432. Patented Sept. 2, 1890-.

"WITNESSES:

9 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LERCHEN, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LOUIS DUGAL, OF SAME PLACE.

SAFETY-STI RRU P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,432, dated September 2, 1890.

Application filed July 29, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAMLERCHEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Donver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and use-- fulImprovements in Safety-Stirrups; andIdo declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in safety-stirrups for riding-saddles; and my object is to provide a stirrup which shall possess all the advantages of safety shown in Letters Patent No. 350,144, issued to me for safety-stirrups, and hearing date October 5, 1886, and at the same time be adapted for use on saddles of the lighter class; and with this end in view my improvement consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved stirrup, showing the same closed or locked. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the stirrup open. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line as 13, Fig. 3.

In the drawings, let the reference-n umerals l and 2 indicate twin sections of the stirrup suitably hinged at a point 3. To the upper portion of section 2 is rigidly secured the cross-bars 4 and 5 in the relative position shown. The upper portion of section 1 is pro vided with apertures 6 and 7, adapted to receive the free extremities of bars 4 and 5,

, respectively.

8 is a locking-lever, consisting of two arms 9 and 10, bent or curvedas shown at 11, andperforated at their upper extremities to receive bar 4, upon which the lever is pivoted, said bar being provided with suitable shoulders to keep the arms of the lever in position, and also with a short pin on the outside of arm 9 and near the free extremity of the bar 50 to hold said arm in position when the stirrup is unlocked.

Rigidly secured to the lower extremities of arms 9 and 10 is the cross-bar 12, provided with curved projecting hooked extremities 13,

Serial No. 319,127. (No model.)

adapted to engage sections 1 and 2 when the stirrup is locked, being so shaped as to fit nicely and tightly between said sections, the hooked portions of extremities 13 overlapping and bearing against the rear edges of sections 1 and 2. Arm 9 is provided with a locking-pin 14, which extends outwardly and down on the outside of section 1 entering the the outer extremity of a slot 15, extending longitudinally in bar 5, said pin being so shaped as to wedge with sufficient tightness in said slot to keep the stirrup locked when the riders foot is in its normal position therein, at the same time allowing the stirrup to unlock readily should the rider be thrown from the horse. This unlocking process is accomplished by the riders foot coming in contact with the cross-bar 12 and drawing the lever B with its connections backward suiticiently to allow section 1 of the stirrup to slip from the free extremities of bars 4 and 5,when 7 5 the foot is immediately released.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a safety-stirrup, the combination,with the twin sections 1 2,-hinged at 3, and the cross-bars 4 5, of a locking-lever composed of two arms 9 and 10, bent or curved as shown at 11, and a cross-bar 12, rigidly secured to the lower extremities of arms 9 and 10, bar 12 being provided with curved projecting hooked extremities 13, adapted to engage sections 1 and 2 and fit tightly between said sections when the stirrup is locked, substantially as described.

2. In a safety-stirrup, the combination,with the hinged sections 1 and 2 and cross-bars 4 and 5, of a locking-lever composed of the arms 9 and 10, bent or curved as shown at 11, and a cross-bar 12, rigidly secured to the lower extremities of arms 9 and 10, bar 12 being provided with curved projecting hooked extremities 13, adapted to engage sections 1 and 2 and lit tightly between said sections when the stirrup is locked, the locking-lever being provided with a pin 14, adapted to enter a 1 slot in bar 5, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM LEROHEN. Witnesses:

FRED. W. FELDWISCH, TM. KowALsKI. 

